The Smart Thinking Podcast

Tired of all of the negativity? It can be hard not to be and negativity is fueled by uncertainty and there is a lot of that lately.
Let's do something about it. Let's get optimistic (Think Olivia Newton-John)! Take a listen as we explore reflective questions to frame your day and bring renewed energy towards your mindset. Ted has a ton of energy on this episode and brings you a great way to frame your oncoming storms!
 
Stop by our store to purchase Ted's tools: https://store.cesa6.org/
 
 
 

This week Ted continues to bring you texts to read and the theme this week is -- growing yourself. Leaders are readers and readers are leaders. This collection of texts will help you with your self-discipline, mindset, leadership behaviors, and reflections as a person for others. A great collection of texts to support you and allow you to grow.
The books:
Discipline is Destiny, Ryan Holiday
The Let Them Theory, Mel Robbins
MindCraft, Aaron Sadoff
Radical Humility, Urs Koenig
Meditation for Mortals, Oliver Burkeman
Duke’s Storm, Ted Neitzke 
Buy Ted's book and tools here: https://store.cesa6.org/
 

People are leaving their jobs and we need a proactive process that allows us to understand how to help. Ted explores the idea of stay interviews and explains the powerful impact that asking positively framed questions can have for leaders as they are seeking to retain staff. He then adds a twist at the end which will help students! 
 
 

55% of Americans (per GALLUP) indicate that they do not know what is expected of them at work. This is not good for stakeholders or leaders. This episode shares a process to help you help others seek clarity and become crystal clear of their expectations. The process begins with providing everyone choice and voice in their world so that they have permission to seek clarity and be engaged and empowered.

Gen Z and Gen Alpha are amazing and yet they are facing threats online that others generations could not have even imagined. Sextortion being one and this episode explores how to talk to young people about the threats they face in the 2020's. All of it by learning how to LEAN into difficult conversations with young people.
Learn together
Engage the topic
Announce expectations
Next steps
 

Organizations create structure and people create culture. So how do we better support Gen Z in the workforce for a great culture? Take a listen as Ted breaks down strategies to support younger employees and colleagues - -oh heck -- these processes are actually good for everybody. 
Describe how you set yourself up for the future.
List programs and supports you need in your current season of life.
Describe innovations you could support in your workplace to increase success. 
Song: Better Days by Thomas LaVine

The RESCUE principle will help us increase the success of others as well as ourselves. Take a listen as Ted breaks down the behaviors of great friends and colleagues to support wellbeing, engagement, and the application of our strengths. 
Resources
Empathy
Support their strengths
Challenge
Understand 
Expectations
Buy Ted's book Duke's Storm here. 
 
 

How good are you or your organization at proactively anticipating what could happen? This episode shares a process borrowed from emergency management and discusses the positive impact of using the wisdom of the crowd to proactively plan for the future. This way everyone understands their role and can support the system in better ways.
Describe where you could apply this process to increase team ownership and understanding.
List people that need to always be in the room when proactively planning.
Describe a past experience that would have been more successful had you done a tabletop.
Buy Duke's Storm here: https://store.cesa6.org/products/dukes-storm
 

There is now a name to our buffalo... Duke! Ted is now the author of a children's book entitled: Duke's Storm: A Story of Courage.
This episode is the story about the story and how Ted was "nudged" by a high school sophomore that had participated in his student leadership training. Listen and hear how their shared experience has created a beautiful book. 
This episode details how multi-generational people can do great things together. Ted and Allison combined their talents to create an amazing book!
Buy book here: https://store.cesa6.org/products/dukes-storm 

What is your process to provide energy whenever you are midway through a process, project or year? This process introduces an engaging practice to support what Ted calls MC Squared. Milestones, Communicated, and Celebrated for engagement and empowerment. All by playing BINGO! 
List current initiatives that could use a boost.
Describe how you provide energy midway in your classroom, school, department, or office.
Determine how you’re going to celebrate effort to bring energy
 
Resource: https://myfreebingocards.com